Coming to a Cross Roads..

[Neekie]

It's okay! If you read my posts over the last couple years, you'll find I've ranted the same way.

On top of it all, in this area, NO ONE cares if their provider is licensed. We honestly have about 10 illegal providers in a county of 26,000 people. Not just unregulated, illegal big time. Some have been in business 20+ years. No one gives a hoot. I'm making all this effort and competing against that, too.

Exactly!

[Neekie]

If it was me I would take the three and get out and about! Someone mentioned keeping your license for a future, what if. That is a good idea, but I get you on getting out from under our licensing regs and the expense of staying licensed.

I love the teaching aspect, but mainly for two's and up. If I had all infant/toddlers I would do as you do and just have fun in an inviting, warm, loving environment. I would say forget it to lesson plans for infants....yuck!

I would probably stay licensed for the food program, but would consider having parents bring food if I dropped my license.

What are you thinking as these kids get older? Will you keep them or will they age out?

I thought the alarm was required no matter how many you transport. That's interesting it is not. Good to know.

We have very few or no illegal providers. They were shut down years ago. That at least helped me. I don't know if it makes a difference that the pop. is only 6,500-everybody knows everbody, county seat=human services works out of this town for our county. I heard from a provider in Madison illegal FCC is rampant there. I would be sooooo frustrated if that was the case here, too!

I think taking the three only and getting out is a great idea!

Good luck with this decision!

happyface

[Neekie]

I would be unlicensed in a heartbeat if I could. Not because I am doing anything "wrong" but because I don't like the direction the state of FCC is headed.

My town sounds similar to yours in that parents are looking for kids to be safe and secure. I've mentioned before that multiple stars, accreditations, etc may mean something elsewhere but parents here are not going to pay extra for those things.

I wish...

I agree!

[Heidi]

If it was me I would take the three and get out and about! Someone mentioned keeping your license for a future, what if. That is a good idea, but I get you on getting out from under our licensing regs and the expense of staying licensed.

I love the teaching aspect, but mainly for two's and up. If I had all infant/toddlers I would do as you do and just have fun in an inviting, warm, loving environment. I would say forget it to lesson plans for infants....yuck!

I would probably stay licensed for the food program, but would consider having parents bring food if I dropped my license.

What are you thinking as these kids get older? Will you keep them or will they age out?

I thought the alarm was required no matter how many you transport. That's interesting it is not. Good to know.

We have very few or no illegal providers. They were shut down years ago. That at least helped me. I don't know if it makes a difference that the pop. is only 6,500-everybody knows everbody, county seat=human services works out of this town for our county. I heard from a provider in Madison illegal FCC is rampant there. I would be sooooo frustrated if that was the case here, too!

I think taking the three only and getting out is a great idea!

Good luck with this decision!

too funny: when I lived in Madison, we didn't have any illegal providers that we knew of. It's only since I've moved here that every one and their mother "watches kids". Well, when you have 12 kids under 5, that's pretty much all you CAN do...

[Neekie]

I was going for the stars myself but changed my mind after I realized it would take most of the fun out and replace it with more rules and paperwork, I really do not need that besides it isn't a star that will determine how good I do my job (I love the misspelling on the front page of their magazine :

Yep, these are my thoughts, too! happyface

[Cradle2crayons]

I totally agree. Get licensed , dump the fourth (ok that didn't sound nice) kid, and go have fun with the remaining three!!!

That way, if you ever needed that license you'll have it.

At least that's what I would do if it were me in your shoes.

I'm legally unlicensed but state registered and I refuse to get licensed unless they force me to .

Now if I could watch more kids, yes I would get licensed. I can watch 5 not counting my own unlicensed and the same amount licensed so I see no benefit to licensing.

[daycarediva]

Heidi, how many under 2's can you take if you aren't licensed? If you get infants and young toddlers, I would market specifically for them and charge a bit more for such a low ratio. I have a provider friends who does this, and she only takes 2-3 at a time and is in HUGE demand. She is going legally unlicensed on her next renewal, too. (spring I believe).

[Neekie]

It's okay! If you read my posts over the last couple years, you'll find I've ranted the same way.

On top of it all, in this area, NO ONE cares if their provider is licensed. We honestly have about 10 illegal providers in a county of 26,000 people. Not just unregulated, illegal big time. Some have been in business 20+ years. No one gives a hoot. I'm making all this effort and competing against that, too.

Oops! Sorry! Just to avoid confusion, I edited my post a little bit after you quoted it.

[Heidi]

Heidi, how many under 2's can you take if you aren't licensed? If you get infants and young toddlers, I would market specifically for them and charge a bit more for such a low ratio. I have a provider friends who does this, and she only takes 2-3 at a time and is in HUGE demand. She is going legally unlicensed on her next renewal, too. (spring I believe).

Doesn't matter...3 kids under the age of 7, but they can all be newborns (). Otherwise, a license is required.

[LK5kids]

too funny: when I lived in Madison, we didn't have any illegal providers that we knew of. It's only since I've moved here that every one and their mother "watches kids". Well, when you have 12 kids under 5, that's pretty much all you CAN do...

I was really surprised when I heard that about lots of under the radar FCC homes! The best of everything to you! Hope it all goes wonderfully!!!

[Heidi]

oh...another reason:

My MIL is my sub. Once she hits 240 hours, she must take have a 3-credit course in early childhood complete or I loose her as a sub.

She's 72 years old, mother of 4, grandmother of 12, and great-grandma of a couple dozen. She is NOT going back to school. So, that means I have to find someone else and "fire" the sub my kids absolutely love. "Grandma S*****". She's at about 150 hours now. I did have her take SIDS and Shaken Baby Training, and was going to pay for infant and toddler CPR when it comes around again. But, a 3 credit course?

[MyAngels]

Based on what you've written about your state's system I would drop the license (and unfortunately the extra child) in a heartbeat. I'd probably raise my rates by $25 per week (assuming the market will bear it) to compensate somewhat for the loss of income.

Where I am (Illinois) I would keep my license no matter what because it's relatively easy and painless. Things may change once they begin implementing their new star type system, but for now it's easy to be licensed and still run my business the way I want to run it.

Double check with different food program sponsors in your area to be sure that you cannot participate as long as you are legally unlicensed.

[Neekie]

oh...another reason:

My MIL is my sub. Once she hits 240 hours, she must take have a 3-credit course in early childhood complete or I loose her as a sub.

She's 72 years old, mother of 4, grandmother of 12, and great-grandma of a couple dozen. She is NOT going back to school. So, that means I have to find someone else and "fire" the sub my kids absolutely love. "Grandma S*****". She's at about 150 hours now. I did have her take SIDS and Shaken Baby Training, and was going to pay for infant and toddler CPR when it comes around again. But, a 3 credit course?

This is another sore spot with me also!

[melilley]

I was going for the stars myself but changed my mind after I realized it would take most of the fun out and replace it with more rules and paperwork, I really do not need that besides it isn't a star that will determine how good I do my job (I love the misspelling on the front page of their magazine :

Getting 3 stars is super easy, but anything after that does take the fun out of it! I didn't see the misspelling, I'll have to look....

[WImom]

I would also keep the license but get rid of the 4th. I know when I moved and had to start over it took 7-9 months to get relicensed. I had to start at the beginning. If you end up needing the income you may regret not having that option available to you quickly.

I agree with all you other WI providers. I HATE all the red tape too! I got written up for forgetting to sign myself out at the end of the day one time in the 6 months she went back looking. Lost my 2 year compliant streak over that.